David is coming off his third straight 100-plus tackle season. He contributed to a career-high 146 tackles last year despite being limited to 14 games.

Larry Dean

News

The Buccaneers signed two players Thursday in free-agent LB Larry Dean, formerly of the Vikings, and center Ben Gottschalk, as they wait to see if the Lions will match the three-year, $9 million offer sheet to restricted free-agent defensive lineman George Johnson, per the team's website.

Dean has mosly played on special teams during his five-year career, while Gottschalk was in Chiefs training camp last season. The Lions have until Monday to match the offer on Johnson, who emerged last year to record 26 tackles and six sacks.

Josh Keyes

No Updates

Johnthan Banks

News

Linebacker Brandon McGee (knee) is the lone Buccaneers player ruled out for the Sunday game against Minnesota. Cornerback Johnthan Banks (neck) is the only teammate on the Friday injury report not deemed questionable.

“There is a lot we ask of our linebackers, starting with making the calls,” coach Lovie Smith said. “Bruce has done that. He has good athletic ability. Just look at our history with Mike linebackers – any good defense, it starts there. He is the quarterback of the defense. Bruce can handle all that, so we are excited about what we think he is going to bring to the table. I think he had about five interceptions, so he’s a playmaker too. We need all that.”

Carter thrived in a system similar to what the Bucs run while he was in Dallas, so the transition has been smoother than usual for a player switching teams and stepping in to such a big role.

"I think it makes it a lot easier, just knowing the scheme overall,” Carter said. “For me as an individual, a player learning a new position, especially middle linebacker, it takes some time to get used to it and working at it. [Linebackers] Coach Hardy [Nickerson] has been doing a great job of helping me out with my keys and reads."

Carter started 32 games over the last three seasons, and recorded 68 tackles and five interceptions last season in just 13 games.

Orie Lemon

News

The Chiefs signed linebacker Orie Lemon to the practice squad Wednesday. Lemon takes the spot of Nico Johnson, who was signed to the Bengals' active roster Wednesday.

Several injured Buccaneers have been placed on the inactive list for the Sunday game against New Orleans, including linebacker Mason Foster (Achilles). Also hurt and out are running back Robert Herron (hip), wide receiver Solomon Patton (foot) and cornerback Isaiah Frey (ankle).

The Bucs were eighth in the league in 2014 in punt returns (10.8 yards per return). O'Dea said the only things missing were longer blocks and a dynamic returner.

"If you stay on your guy, he'll get to the house," O'Dea said. "That's the bottom line."

Leonard Johnson

News

The Buccaneers re-signed nickel back Leonard Johnson, a restricted free agent, to a one-year deal, reports the Tampa Bay Times. He had 45 tackles, three forced fumbles and an interception while playing every game last season.

Winston was competing with quarterback Mike Glennon for the starting role. Winston was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft and will receive the majority of the first-team repetitions during training camp.

"We brought him in here to be our quarterback," Smith said, per NFL.com.

The team also announced they claimed linebacker Khaseem Greene off waivers. Greene totaled 17 tackles in 10 games for the Bears last season.

Patrick Omameh

News

Among the Buccaneers inactives for Week 16 against the Rams, three are sidelined as a result of injuries. Offensive lineman Carl Nicks (foot), defensive lineman Da'Quan Bowers (knee) and defensive back Mark Barron (hamstring) headline the team's inactive list.

By extending qualifying offers to Lansanah and McDougald, the team ensures the two will be back in 2015. When they sign their offers, they will essentially be signing one-year deals. Jenkins signed a one-year contract.

The Buccaneers placed rookie guard Kadeem Edwards on injured reserve with a foot injury, the team announced.

Henry Melton

News

The Buccaneers "should be able to announce" Thursday that they've signed free agent defensive tackle Henry Melton, reports the Tampa Bay Times. The Cowboys declined the three-year option on Melton, making him a free agent.

Melton, 28, played in every game last season, recording five sacks and 15 tackles.

Mike Evans

News

The Buccaneers, who own the first pick in the 2015 NFL draft, obviously could use some help at quarterback after the tandem of Josh McCown and Mike Glennon led Tampa Bay to a 2-14 record in 2014.

It is widely believed the No. 1 pick could either be Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota or Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston. Bucs general manager Jason Licht and coach Lovie Smith attended the Rose Bowl to watch the two quarterbacks square off.

"My job is to catch the ball and make plays," Evans told FOXSports.com in a telephone interview. "I trust that our front office will do the right thing."

Evans, who totaled 68 receptions for 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2014, played with former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel at Texas A&M. He gave FOX Sports his scouting report of Winston and Mariota.

"They do different things, but they're both in the spotlight a lot," Evans explained of Winston. "Jameis had legal troubles, where Manziel parties too much, people say. It's still the same though with the off-the-field distractions. They both do a great job of owning the spotlight. Everyone wants to know what they're doing at all times. They're very popular. They're very famous.

"I know Oregon beat Florida State pretty bad, but I like Jameis' game a lot. I like Mariota's game, too. Mariota reminds me a lot of Manziel. A bigger version of course. He won the Heisman. He's a great player. His resume speaks for itself. I think Manziel creates a little more than Mariota. Manziel does some impossible things, but they're very similar.

"And for Jameis he'll stand in that pocket and deliver that ball. They're both great players."

Smith is slated to start at left tackle for Tampa Bay as the team looks to upgrade its offensive line in front of likely starting quarterback Jameis Winston.

"You have to have an attitude to play on the offensive line in general, but I think there is a little extra on us [at left tackle] because you are protecting the blind side of the quarterback," Smith said.

Isaiah Frey

News

Several injured Buccaneers have been placed on the inactive list for the Sunday game against New Orleans, including linebacker Mason Foster (Achilles). Also hurt and out are running back Robert Herron (hip), wide receiver Solomon Patton (foot) and cornerback Isaiah Frey (ankle).

Several injured Buccaneers have been placed on the inactive list for the Sunday game against New Orleans, including linebacker Mason Foster (Achilles). Also hurt and out are running back Robert Herron (hip), wide receiver Solomon Patton (foot) and cornerback Isaiah Frey (ankle).

Buccaneers tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins battled injuries and caught just 21 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie, but "he's expected to be a big part of new coordinator Dirk Koetter's offense," reports the Tampa Tribune.

Seferian-Jenkins went on IR due to back problems, missing the last three games. He also missed two earlier games with an ankle injury. Now he's fully healthy and says he'll participate fully in offseason workouts.

"The back feels great,’’ Seferian-Jenkins said. "It’s feeling awesome -- so much better since the end of the season. By being put on (injured reserve) I got a chance to rest, so it’s feeling great again.

“I really just needed to let my body rest,’’ he added. “Going back to last year, what with the (college) season and the combine training I had to do and all that, I never really got that little break that you need.

“And I was coming off a foot injury on top of that, so this (past month) was the first time in four or five years that I’ve had a chance to get a rest, so I feel so much better right now because of that.”

Clinton McDonald

News

The Buccaneers ruled running back Bobby Rainey (wrist) as probable for Sunday's game against the Packers. He was the only player on Tampa Bay's final injury report for Week 16 deemed probable.

The Bucs were eighth in the league in 2014 in punt returns (10.8 yards per return). O'Dea said the only things missing were longer blocks and a dynamic returner.

"If you stay on your guy, he'll get to the house," O'Dea said. "That's the bottom line."

Garrett Gilkey

News

Buccaneers center Evan Dietrich-Smith, who missed the Week 13 loss to the Bengals with flu-like symptoms, is healthy again after being sick for a full week, reports ESPN.com. His replacement, Garrett Gilkey, was called for four penalties and made two bad shotgun snaps against Cincy.

Smith and George Johnson were the bookends on the defensive line, surrounding Gerald McCoy and Clinton McDonald. Lavonte David and Danny Lansanah were the two linebackers in the nickel set, with Alterraun Verner and Johnthan Banks at corner and Chris Conte and Major Wright at safety. Sterling Moore and Isaiah Frey each played nickel.

Smith was a castoff by Buffalo early last season but developed into a rotational end with the Buccaneers, racking up 6 1/2 sacks.

Martin, who is entering his fourth year in the league, doesn't want the Bucs' decision to not pick up his fifth-year option to mean he's done in Tampa, per The Tampa Tribune.

“I have my own house here now and I’m just now fixing up the backyard,’’ Martin said. “It’s almost finished, so I would really love to be back here. I love this place.’’

The move not to pick up the option was largely based off finances. Martin was slated to make $5.6 million during the fifth year, which was a hefty price-tag for a guy who has been injury riddled his last two seasons.

“It didn’t surprise me,’’ he said. “And I don’t want to say, you know, ‘Whatever,’ because it’s something that just comes along with the business end of things. It’s part of the game. Besides, if I do everything that’s under my control, everything will fall into place the way I want it to."

Martin has rushed for fewer than 500 yards in consecutive seasons after posting an astounding rookie season, when he rushed for 1,454 and 11 touchdowns.

Kevin Pamphile

News

The Buccaneers ruled running back Bobby Rainey (wrist) as probable for Sunday's game against the Packers. He was the only player on Tampa Bay's final injury report for Week 16 deemed probable.

"We've been like that for a while where we've had the first pick and we've been taking calls for a long period of time and I assume that would go right up until the draft," Smith said. "Yes, specifically on Glennon."

Glennon, 5-13 as a starter, has thrown for 4,025 yards with 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in two seasons.

Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston is sick of listening to folks talk about what he can be as an NFL player. He wants this year to motivate them to praise him for what he's proving.

The fourth-round pick in 2013 has 72 tackles and four sacks over his first two seasons. And that's not good enough in his mind.

"I'm tired of hearing 'potential' - I want to live up to that potential and establish myself," he told MLive.com. "I'm trying to explode on the scene and show my ability. ... I don't want to be the guy who made it to the NFL on potential. I want to be the guy who is in the NFL playing and doing the things people expect me to do and and things I expect me to do. I think I can do that this year."

What will help is a familiarity with the defense, which is the same this season after changes the last two years.

"The mentality is to trample the run on the way to the quarterback," he explained. "The physical transition to the NFL wasn't as hard for me, coming from Michigan State, but there's a mental aspect for every rookie, a few days where you have to get an understanding with how fast it goes with the adjustments, knowing what the snap counts will be like."

Dotson, who skipped the Bucs' voluntary practices this offseason, wants a new contract but also realized that getting fined and losing money during a holdout wasn't the best way to get that point across.

“I didn’t want to lose any money,” Dotson said, per The Tampa Tribune. “It would have been like $100,000 (in total fines), and I don’t have $100,000 to lose. I want to keep my money. (Besides), that’s the only way to keep negotiations going.”

Dotson said the Bucs' stopped working with him on a new deal once he began to skip out on team activities. He's hoping his return will put the negotiation back on the table.

“They weren’t going to negotiate with me staying out, so I think this was the best move to make,” Dotson said of returning to camp. “(Negotiations) haven’t started yet, but I think it’s going to be real soon.”

Dotson has started 47 of 48 games for the Bucs over the last three years.

Vincent Jackson

News

Buccaneers wide reciever Vincent Jackson is working at a variety of positions in OTAs this offseason.

New offensive coordinator Dirk Koettner is installing Jackson's third offensive scheme in as many years, and Jackson likes what he's seen.

Dirk is having some fun moving me around and playing me in multiple places, and it’s been fun for me, too,’’ Jackson said, per TBO.com. “It’s fun to play inside (in the slot) and outside, to be able stretch the field and cross the field. That’s what’s good about this system. We’re going to put the ball all over the place. The backs, the tight ends, everybody’s going to be involved and that should make it fun for all of us."

Adam Humphries

News

When the Buccaneers drafted Utah wide receiver Kaelin Clay in the sixth round, general manager Jason Licht indicated the team's kick returner job would be Clay's to lose.

All four were set to become free agents Tuesday. Stocker was the only player of the four to not sign a one-year deal, getting a three-year extension with the team.

Stocker played 13 games in 2014, totaling seven catches for 41 yards.

Patrick Murray

News

Buccaneers kicker Patrick Murray made his only field goal attempt in Tampa Bay's 20-3 loss to the Packers Sunday.

Murray hit a 43 yarder as time expired in the first half. He is now 18 for 22 on the year, with a long of 55 yards. It was his first game of the season without an extra point attempt, where he is 29 for 29.

The Bucs finish their season in Week 17 against the Saints.

Al-Hajj Shabazz

No Updates

Charles Sims

News

The Buccaneers running game managed just 16 yards on 14 carries for Tampa Bay in the 20-3 loss to the Packers. Just a week after rushing for 96 yards, Doug Martin had 10 carries for 17 yards. Backup Charles Sims had four carries for -1 yards.

Sims added three catches for 30 yards.

The Buccaneers will finish their season in Week 17 against the Saints.

Brandon Myers

News

The Buccaneers and tight end Brandon Myers have agreed to a new contract extension, which will lower his 2015 and keep him under contract through 2016, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Myers has been a marginal contributor this season, turning 25 targets into 18 catches for 169 yards in 13 games.

Wright, who started his career with the Bucs before being traded to the Patriots last year, is glad to be back where his career started two seasons ago.

“I’m pretty happy about (the opportunity) to step in and contribute right away,” Wright said.

Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith said the move to bring back Wright, who caught five touchdowns as a rookie for the team, makes the Bucs a better team.

“It was an easy decision to make on Tim,” Bucs coach Lovie Smith said. “We liked Tim (last year). We decided to go in a different direction, but now we’re a stronger football team with Tim on our team. It’s good to have him back.”

Caushaud Lyons

No Updates

Ali Marpet

News

The Buccaneers agreed to a contract with rookie offensive guard Ali Marpet on Thursday, the team announced.

Marpet was a second-round pick in the 2015 draft. With the signing, the Buccaneers have signed all seven of their 2015 draft picks.

All four were set to become free agents Tuesday. Stocker was the only player of the four to not sign a one-year deal, getting a three-year extension with the team.

Stocker played 13 games in 2014, totaling seven catches for 41 yards.

Chris Hackett

No Updates

Danny Lansanah

News

Buccaneers linebacker Danny Lansanah, an exclusive rights free agent, signed his one-year tender, reports ESPN.com. Lansanah played every game last season, recording 81 tackles, three interceptions and 1.5 sacks.

Bobby Rainey

News

The Buccaneers have announced that running back Bobby Rainey has signed a one-year qualifying offer the team extended to him before the free agency period. He was a restricted free agent and was given an opportunity to negotiate with other teams.

Rainey will compete for playing time with Tampa Bay. He rushed for 406 yards in 2014, but faded at the end of the season with just two carries in the last six games combined.

Josh Allen

News

The Buccaneers have promoted rookie center Josh Allen from the practice squad and cut cornerback C.J. Wilson. The moves were made in response to starting center Evan Dietrich-Smith being limited in practice with an illness.

Tampa Bay is set to host Cincinnati on Sunday.

Seth Lobato

News

The Dolphins have completed their series of cuts to pare down their roster to the league-mandated 53 heading into the regular season.

Lane, an exclusive-rights free agent, spent the 2014 season with the Buccaneers and appeared in nine games. He had three carries for 58 yards, with one of those going for a 54-yard gain. Lane was a standout power runner at Texas A&M in college.

Ogbuehi spent time on the Ravens practice squad in 2014. He's also had stints with the Redskins, Dolphins and Browns. He played college football at Georgia State, where he totaled 47 catches for 581 yards in 28 games.

Brandon Bogotay

News

The Buccaneers were busy during the third day of organized team activities.

Bogotay was a tryout player at rookie minicamp and previously a member of the Browns' practice squad. Gottschalk was with the Chiefs' practice squad last season.

Robert Herron

News

Several injured Buccaneers have been placed on the inactive list for the Sunday game against New Orleans, including linebacker Mason Foster (Achilles). Also hurt and out are running back Robert Herron (hip), wide receiver Solomon Patton (foot) and cornerback Isaiah Frey (ankle).

The Buccaneers have signed guards Roger Allen and Howard Barbieri as well as linebacker Dom DeCicco. To make room for them they waived cornerback Mason Robinson and tackles Brice Schwab and Jason Weaver.

Fellow wideout Solomon Patton made the most of his opportunity, racing 19 yards on an end-around. Jorvorskie Lane added one carry for two yards while Bobby Rainey managed the same yardage on four attempts while catching one pass for 16 yards.

Gerald McCoy

News

Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson is headed to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who is out with a knee injury, reports ESPN.com. Richardson started every game this season and finished with 66 tackles, eight sacks and a forced fumble.

Matthew Masifilo

News

The Buccaneers waived defensive tackle Matthew Masifilo, who made his NFL debut Sunday at Cleveland, reports the Tampa Bay Times.

The team also announced they claimed linebacker Khaseem Greene off waivers. Greene totaled 17 tackles in 10 games for the Bears last season.

Dominique Brown

No Updates

George Johnson

News

Buccaneers defensive end George Johnson appeared in a career-high 16 games in 2014 for the Lions, but he made no starts. He mostly was a rotational pass rusher last year, but the job seemed to suit him well, as he totaled a career-best six sacks.

"No question we would like to have a good rotation across the line, so when we get to the fourth quarter our best guys are on the field in those key situations," Frazier said, per the team's official website. "We don’t want to put George in a situation where he has to play 80 percent of the downs nor do we want even Gerald [McCoy] to play 80-90 percent of the downs. We would like to have enough depth where when we do take guys off the field to get a blow, we don’t have a big drop off.

"Hopefully this year we will have the depth to do that. That includes George. I think he had [about] 600 snaps a season ago, so he may end up right around that range, again, a little bit more. That will probably depend on how well the other guys are playing around him as well."

By extending qualifying offers to Lansanah and McDougald, the team ensures the two will be back in 2015. When they sign their offers, they will essentially be signing one-year deals. Jenkins signed a one-year contract.

Chris Conte

News

The Buccaneers have signed free agent safety Chris Conte to a one-year deal, according to the team's official website on Thursday.

Conte, 26,registered 43 tackles and three interceptions in 12 starts for the Bears last season. He has ties with current Tampa Bay coach Lovie Smith. He played 29 games for the former Chicago coach from 2011-2012.

Running back Charles Sims led a small contingent of Buccaneers who pitched in offensively to a Sunday loss to Cincinnati. He tied for the team lead with four catches for 49 yards, but was held to just six yards on five carries.

Fellow back Bobby Rainey managed just one run for 11 yards, but had a 29-yard reception down on a failed last-ditch drive down the stretch. Tight end Cameron Brate managed his first NFL reception that went 17 yards while wideout Louis Murphy was held to just one catch for seven yards.

Alterraun Verner

News

Buccaneers running back Doug Martin is active Week 12 against the Bears.

Martin has been dealing with an ankle injury. He's missed the past three games due to the issue.

The team will also have Charles Sims and Alterraun Verner. Both players came into the contest listed as questionable. Sims has an ankle injury. Verner is dealing with a hamstring issue.